The Sponsor is running an international phase III trial in Crohn’s disease. Study recruitment is challenged by initial low incidence of the disease, combined with a big number of competing trials, as well as COVID-19 impact. As an escalation strategy and to reengage sites that are behind on the enrollment, the Sponsor decided to perform booster visits, including on-site visits by GCT
team in Russia.
Patient recruitment and retention strategy is a huge part of proactive contingency planning of any the trial. Booster visit is an important component of the planning that allows sites and Sponsors/CROs to get together and develop an action plan to reach the enrollment projections.
“We are struggling with patient recruitment in this trial, and under normal circumstances we as a Sponsor make individual visits to each of our sites to boost patient recruitment. Still, the horrid COVID-19 pandemic is keeping us from making individual visits by ourselves, thus forcing us to find alternatives – booster visits made by local CRO. It is the fact that local CROs are more likely to have pre-existing strong relationships with PIs or other personnel who can positively affect patient recruitment. Our aim is to make booster visits to those sites by GCT (with pre-existing relationships and rapport) and to have positive effect in patient recruitment that we are having a hard time with.”
GCT is a full-service clinical research organization operating in Russia since 2001. The company have established strong relationships with PIs and sites countrywide. GCT has scheduled face-to-face meetings with Investigator site teams in Kazan, Irkutsk, St. Petersburg, Moscow, Tomsk and Samara. Moreover, the first visit has already been conducted.
“Nowadays, it has become complicated for Sponsor to closely oversee the process of clinical trials due to travel restrictions. Having a reliable and experienced partner who is able to provide a high-level service and engage the study team is the key to solving this problem” — said Dr. Eugene Selivra, GCT CEO.